Friday, November 6, 2009

Does Wit Preclude Wisdom or Wisdom Wit?

Sergei Rachmaninoff was a great composer and pianist and a noteworthy conductor. He did not have, though, a buoyant personality, but was rather like a bipedal manifestation of gloom. Someone once described him (a tall man) as a six-foot scowl. This did not, however diminish his musical greatness. It obviously will not do, on the other hand, for Christian Scientists to present themselves (or their Church) to the world as staid, sobersided Eeyores (ref. "Winnie-the-Pooh")--though this doesn't imply that all or even most do.

The total (or very nearly total) absence of humor in the Bible and writings of Mary Baker Eddy is understandable. Theology has never been a trove of jocund or jocular fare. That said, one wonders why Christian Science writing needs to be (or seems to many to be) so dully monochromatic, as if an appreciative snicker at some clever turn of phrase would defile Christ Jesus' words and works and Christian Science and consign the unfortunate reader to eternal damnation. Years ago an editor for the periodicals told me (my thumbnail summary of the conversation) that a Monitor columnist, Melvin Maddox (sp?), was the (apparently one-off) standard for levity in the periodicals. He was an excellent writer, but I do not recall ever losing a button or indulging in a prolonged chortle over anything he wrote. It was decidedly buttoned-down hilarity.

I am certainly not advocating that humor should be slathered indiscriminately like ketchup on every verbal morsal or in every C.S. conversation. Most religious subjects don't lend themselves readily to lightheartedness, which certainly needs to be used naturally and judiciously, but in my admittedly limited past dealings with CSPS they seemed to recoil from humor with the same terror and revulsion that the toons in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" had for The Dip.

A chuckle or good laugh at the right moment can help break and dispel the mesmerism and miasma of some of mortal mind's oppressive false beliefs and promote healing. Humor can help provide welcome light to an otherwise cold, dark, and dreary day. A non-Scientist could well get, at times, the impression that in our strait-laced scheme of things we regard risibility to be a first cousin to crapulence or the use of smack or coke. (The puzzling disappearance or erosion of some needful and strengthening standards is another subject and not one ripe for humorus treatment.) It is true humor can be cutting and even caustic, but it need not be. If the basis for a joke is a common human failing or foible, what's the harm? Not many of us would fail to benefit from heeding the gentle prod that a good guffaw at our own expense might provide.

23 comments:

Thanks from the UK said...

You're back! And with an excellent blog posting, I might add.
Really do enjoy the way you think and put your thoughts into words.

A faithful reader said...

I've been checking your website each day, and was rewarded just now. A very expertly done little essay, up to your usual high standards. Will read again. A lot in this one.

A Florida CS said...

I love your razor-sharp wit and think we could use a whole lot more of it in the periodicals. Recall that side-splitter you wrote about a year ago on Trammell and the sordid episode she has not yet spoken to.
Keep up what you are doing!

Patrick said...

I concur with your premise here and sincerely feel that our Leader must have enjoyed a good laugh now and then. With all she had to overcome, I would think she needed it at times.
Well written blog post.

Best to you from Boston said...

Enjoyable blog post. I agree with you, and I work at the Church Center. Enough said (for now)

Appreciation said...

Dear Writer,
In my humble opinion, the perios are poorer for not having your articles. Though I don't know your name, would certainly recognize the high calibre writing if I saw it. Aren't we glad there's the Internet?

LowlyWise said...

There IS humor in both the Bible and S&H, There's Jonah, not exactly a belly-laugh, but still, the story of his resentment against God for not punishing Nineveh after all, and his pout under the leafy gourd makes it hard to read with a straight face. Jesus' last word with the Pharisees on several occasions always raises a smile. The pun on Peter's name was a comradely joke in its context. "The poor you have always with you" graciously and light-heartedly turns off the sobersided criticism of his deeply humble stance that to the worldly-minded comes off as pride.

One that cracks me up every time: WHO would stand before the blackboard and pray the principle of mathematics to solve the problem?" MBE pulls out many rhetorical stops and does not hesitate to use this exaggerated ridicule to make a point. Similarly, the reference to Tibetan prayer-machines. In the account of the woman who did not age, the aside "she became insane" lightly shows what she might think of unrealists who "[lose] all account of time." And in Mis. 348 she is surely pulling our leg when shen lists the foodstuffs and seasonings she eschews, including salt and "capsicum."

There are probably more. Hmmm -- maybe this will be a future Wednesday reading!♠

E. W. said...

Another good one, blogger. Well worth the time to read and ponder.
Thanks.

Susan said...

You write very well. Of course, you think clearly and this shows in your excellent blog posts.
I enjoy reading what you share.

Southern California said...

It's your talent at presenting CS topics in an often witty way that makes me return time and again to see your latest. And the sharp treatment some higher-ups have received were well-deserved in my view.

Your Cambridge viewer said...

Like this one a lot, blogger.
You are consistently giving out top flight essays on CS topics, and I thank you.

L. R. said...

You are the best! I get such delight from reading your blog posts. The way you express what you are thinking about a given subject is so fresh, so original.
Too bad those who put out the old periodicals don't see what many of us out here see.

Anonymous said...

Doesn't our Leader say in her writings somewhere something about their being enduring wit and vivacity among God's people? Don't have time to look it up, but I do recall something along these lines.
Enjoyed this immensely.

Still Impressed said...

In answer to your title query, no it does not in my opinion. A very well crafted little offering here, blogger.

NYC said...

Boy, have I lost more than a few buttons laughing at your blog through the months. And what's wrong with us CS's having a chuckle or two? Nothing, in my opinion.
Thanks much,

R. T. said...

Extremely well presented, writer. Can see why you have a successful, widely-read blog. Too bad the periodicals are too buttoned up, almost afraid of letting real writing talent in the door.
Keep it up!

Helen said...

You've got a winner here. And as to contributing your works to the periodicals, someone as confident of his (or her) abilities as a writer as you obviously are, just is not going to sit still for having things watered down and perhaps being edited by those not as spiritually-advanced as you are.
At least this is what I think about the situation.

Ohio practitioner said...

Hi there,
While I admire your considerable skill at putting thoughts into clear words, I most appreciate your obvious devotion to the Cause we all love so much.
God bless and keep you,

Oxford said...

I'm all for a little levity, but I do think I prefer your later blog posts where you are sticking it to Boston officials. Not that we overlook wrongs, but God can correct whatever needs correcting, don't you think?

Chicago said...

A friend recommended your website as one worth checking out, and I can see why he did. Very well done indeed. Enjoyed reading this.

Kathy R. said...

Just want to say this Sunday morning, God bless your faithful work on behalf of the great Cause our dear Leader left us!

Sunny California said...

I agree with you, blogger of great talent, that sometimes we CS's seem too buttoned up, too afraid to give way to inspiration/joy/spontaneity/originality--yes, humor as you bring out.
Good blog post!

Washington, DC said...

Make 'em laugh, make 'em cry, or make 'em angry. You do all three. Good work!